Thread: Protesters cry for sanctuary

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 00312/1006

Protesters cry for sanctuary
Hundreds take to streets against bill that would make aiding undocumented immigrants illegal

Nicole C. Brambila
The Desert Sun
March 20, 2006

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COACHELLA - Chanting "si se puede" - "it can be done" - more than 800 residents protested a bill in Congress that would make it illegal to help undocumented immigrants.
Protesters marched the same Coachella streets where 40 years ago César Chávez organized farm laborers to urge the City Council to make the community an "immigrant sanctuary" despite the proposed federal crackdown.

Even the town's mayor said Sunday night he doesn't think local authorities should enforce provisions of the bill if it becomes law.

Protesters echoed the sentiment.

"We want them to strongly oppose the (bill)," said Maria Bautista, an event organizer with Comité Latino, of the Coachella City Council.

Bautista, 28, said House Resolution 4437 would make criminals of citizens who help undocumented immigrants, even inadvertently.

"I don't think that it's fair to be treated as a criminal," she said, adding, "It's going to create a lot of hate between people."

Supporters of the bill say undocumented immigrants overwhelm schools, sap health-care resources and cause problems for law enforcement. The bill would authorize local authorities to enforce federal immigration laws.

Last week, Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, one of the bill co-sponsors, said illegal immigration is "harming the education and health-care systems."


In addition to making it illegal to help undocumented immigrants, HR 4437 proposes building a $2 billion fence along the Mexican border.
About 233,000 of the nation's roughly 12 million undocumented immigrants live in Riverside County.

Nearly 97 percent of Coachella's 30,000 residents are Latino. Many are immigrants and work in agriculture and in the valley's burgeoning hospitality industry. Coachella's history is intertwined with Chávez's historic boycotts and strikes aimed at growers he said exploited workers.

Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle said if HR 4437 passes deputies will enforce the law, even if it is unpopular in communities like Coachella.

The county has a contract to provide police services in the city.

During the rally, passing cars honked in support for protesters who hoisted signs that read, "Stop racism," "No HR 4437, Yes Sanctuary" and "We are not criminals, we are immigrants."

Children carrying a large American flag led the procession.

Organizers said they hoped Sunday's turnout will encourage the Coachella City Council to adopt a resolution to oppose HR 4437 and make Coachella an "immigrant sanctuary."

No one Sunday, however, knew exactly how the resolution, proposed by Coachella Councilman Eduardo "Eddie" Garcia, would be worded.

Garcia could not be reached for comment and no one from the council attended the protest.

Before the the protest, Coachella Mayor Jesse Villarreal said immigration reform should go beyond law enforcement. But he didn't say whether he expects the council will approve an anti-4437 resolution.

Law-abiding immigrants, even people without documents, make valuable contributions to the community, Villarreal said.

"We need to look at an immigration law that will benefit (immigrants)," he said.

Los Angeles, Pomona and Maywood city councils all passed resolutions earlier this year opposing the bill.

Arnold Morales - who marched Sunday with his wife and children - agreed, saying the bill would encourage racial profiling.

"The law hasn't even passed and some have already started pulling people over," Morales said.

In December, Costa Mesa authorized its police officers to enforce federal immigration laws, following the lead of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Bautista said the organization plans to initiate similar resolutions opposing HR 4437 in Palm Springs and Cathedral City.

Cathedral City resident Sostenes Abalos said he plans to protest there, too.

With the issue of immigration polarizing Americans, he acknowledged that making Coachella an immigrant sanctuary would be a challenge.

"I think it's hard to do it, but if we keep doing things like this we can do it," Abalos said.

"We need to look at an immigration law that will benefit (immigrants)," he said.

Yes, by all means, let's put the rights of illegal aliens above those of American citizens. Makes perfect sense to me.

Quote:
Law-abiding immigrants, even people without documents, make valuable contributions to the community, Villarreal said.
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They already broke one law by illegally entering America. Who knows what laws they will break next.